SHIMLA: Nadaun's Four-time legislator Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was swore-in as the 15th Chief Minister of this tiny hill state at a swearing-in ceremony at historic The Ridge in the capital city of Shimla here on Sunday.
State governor Rajinder Vishwanath Arlekar administered him and the Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnitori an oath of office and secrecy at a chock-a-block The Ridge in a simple yet largely attended ceremony in which top Congress leaders and workers and supporters participated.
Sukhu will finally take over the chair of CM in Secretariate tomorrow.
Dedicating his win to the people of Himachal, 'non-royal' Sukhu took over the command as the 15th CM of the state. He hails from Hamirpur district in the so-called lower Himachal.
His predecessors - Dr YS Parmar came from Sirmaur, Virbhdra Singh from Rampur, Shimla and Thakur Ram Lal from Jubbal-Kotkhai in Shimla, all in so-called old Himachal.
Sukhu's rise to top post of CM has come through his hardwork as he has created a niche in the Congress even if comes from a humble background.
Sukhu's father was a driver. His rise in the Congress has come as an inspirational story for the youth who dream of becoming leaders and are willing to join the Congress.
By making Sukhu as CM, Congress has silenced the BJP and other critics who have been accusing Congress of promoting dynasts in the party and to the top post.
BJP has been nailing Congress as party of "royals and dynasts", whereas BJP is the party in which a son of Mistri, Jai Ram Thakur and a chaiwala can become Prime Minister, making reference to Narender Modi in rallies and public platforms.
It was for the first time that the Council of Ministers was not administered the oath. The Congress High command did not make any announcement about this so far as Congress has to keep the all powerful "Virbhadra Singh and other groups together. 
The ceremony was attended by Congress national leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot Sachin Pilot, Bhupender Singh Hooda, R Surjewala and others.
Gandhi played tributes to late Virbhadra Singh on the stage to acknowledge his contribution to the development of Himachal and to the Congress party.
A team of central observers including Chief Minister Chhattisgarh and Observer AICC Bhupesh Baghel, Former Chief Minister Haryana and Observer AICC Bhupinder Singh Hooda, MP Rajya Sabha and Incharge of HP Congress Rajeev Shukla, MP Lok Sabha and State Congress President Pratibha Singh, Observer Tajender Bittu Anand Sharma and and elected MLAs were present on the occasion.
Without losing golden time, Congress party high command acted swiftly after the 40 elected Congress MLAs gave their nod to the party high command to take a call on CM-designate. 
The three contenders for the top post- PCC President Pratibha Singh, Sukhu and Mukesh Agnihotri- had told media persons that they would abide by the Congress high command.
While Agnihotri has been made as Deputy CM to quell the disquiet, but the Congress high command faces big task ahead as to how to make a balancing act to accommodate Pratibha Singh and Vikramaditya Singh and their supporting MLAs in the new power setup.
After the demise of Virbhadra Singh, "Holy Lodge", his residence, which was centre of Congress power, did not enjoy the "bargaining power". Nor did Pratibha Singh enjoy the support of "key players" of Congress, who influence and guide the Party High Command- "Gandhis"- this time, reveal insiders.
Second, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who has embarked on the Bharat Jodo Andolan in the country is also attracting aam aadmi into party fold.
The days ahead would interesting as to how Sukhu and Congress High Command keep the opposing tribe together.
After the ceremony Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun appeared on the the stage with PCC chief Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh.
They shared the stage a "confidence- building exercise" with the workers and supporters who had rooted for the top post for Pratibha Singh keeping power with Holy Lodge even after the exit of Virbhadra Singh.
The ceremony was also attended by families of Sukhvinbder Singh Sukhu and Mukesh Agnihotri, who appeared with the "Gandhis" on the stage. They included Sukhu's mother and his wife Kamlesh Thakur and their two daughters. 
The Congress workers caution that the BJP would leave no opportunity to forge defections or create factions in the new setup to destabilise the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government in the state.
Getting to Know Sukhu:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was born on 27th March, 1964 at Village Bhavran in tehsil Nadaun of District Hamirpur. He is son of Late Shri Rasil Singh. He was married to Smt. Kamlesh Thakur and has two daughters.
He did M.A., L.L.B. and remained elected Class Representative of Govt. Degree College, Sanjauli, Shimla from 1981-82 and 1982-83.
He was elected as General Secretary in 1983-1984 and remained President, Govt. Degree College, Sanjauli from 1984 to 1985.
He was also elected as Department Representative of Law Department, HP University during 1985-86 and State President, NSUI in 1989 to 1995.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu remained General Secretary, State Youth Congress from 1995 to 1998 and President, State Youth Congress from 1998 to 2008.
He remained Councilor of Municipal Corporation, Shimla twice from 1992 to 97 and 1997 to 2002. He was elected as General Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee from 2008 to 2012 and President, Pradesh Congress Committee in 2013.
He was elected to the State Legislative Assembly in 2003, re-elected in December, 2007 and remained as the Chief Whip, Congress Legislature Party from 2007 to 2012.
He was re-elected to the thirteenth Vidhan Sabha for the third term in December, 2017 and was nominated as Member, Public Undertakings, Privileges and Business Advisory Committees.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was again re-elected to the fourteenth Vidhan Sabha in December, 2022 and today sworn in as the Chief Minister of the State.
Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri:
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri is son of Late Shri Onkar Chand Sharma. He was born on 9th October, 1962 at Village Gondpur in Tehsil Haroli of District Una. He has a daughter and his wife is a university teacher.
Agnihotri is a scribe who was launched into politics by late Virbhadra Singh.
He worked as a Senior Correspondent in many reputed newspapers for almost 15 years.
He was elected to the State Legislative Assembly in March, 2003 for the first time. He was re-elected to Vidhan Sabha in 2007, 2012 and 2017.
He also remained Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Chairman, Housing Board from March, 2003 to 18th August, 2005.
He remained Industries Minister with additional charge of Labour & Employment, Parliamentary Affairs, Information & Public Relations from 25th December 2012 to 20th December 2017.
He was re-elected to the thirteenth Vidhan Sabha in 2017 and elected as Congress Legislature Party Leader on January, 2018. He was also nominated as Member, Business Advisory Committee during this period.
Mukesh Agnihotri was re-elected to the fourteenth Vidhan Sabha for the fifth term in December, 2022 from Haroli Vidhan Sabha Constituency and today sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of the State
